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Iraq
An Iraqi sits in front of graffiti in Karbala on May 23, 2021 reading in Arabic "Where's my killer?" and depicting anti-government activist Ihab al-Wazni who was shot dead earlier this month. Photo: Mohammed Sawaf/AFP
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Four people were arrested near Baghdad’s Tahrir Square on Tuesday morning, ahead of a planned large demonstration condemning the government’s failure to arrest those behind a spate of murders of activists and journalists, Iraq’s Security Media Cell stated.
“Law enforcement units managed to arrest four infiltrators near Tahrir Square in the capital, Baghdad, this morning. Upon searching them, weapons were found in their luggage and they confessed to their attempt to infiltrate the front lines of the demonstrations and cause riots and chaos during the demonstration,” reads a statement from the media cell.
Protesters from across southern Iraq are gathering in Baghdad on Tuesday for a mass demonstration under hashtags like #Who_killed_me. There have been 81 attempted assassinations of activists since anti-government protests began in October 2019, according to Iraq’s human rights commission. At least 34 activists have been killed.
The protests were triggered by the assassination of prominent activist from Karbala Ihab al-Wazni earlier this month by unknown gunmen. Many people arriving in the capital on Tuesday morning were carrying pictures of al-Wazni.
"Liar Kadhimi! Liar!" a woman holding an image of assassinated protest leader Ihab al-Wazni leads a chant as protesters gather for a mass demonstration in Baghdad to condemn government failure to end killings of activists. https://t.co/1zhg18qujn pic.twitter.com/A7aAZC5Xo5
— Rudaw English (@RudawEnglish) May 25, 2021
On Monday, Iraq’s Observatory for Human Rights called on the government to protect the demonstrators.
Security forces have reminded protesters to remain peaceful.
“The Joint Operations Command calls on the honorable protesting brothers to adhere to peaceful demonstrations and express their constitutional right with complete freedom, reflecting their culture, commitment, and patriotism. The joint Iraqi security forces will be keen to protect peaceful demonstrations and the security of the demonstrators and provide them with full support,” the media cell said in a separate statement.
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